The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim Yo-jong, director of the General Affairs Department of the Workers' Party of Korea and sister of General Secretary Kim Jong-un, and Pak Jong-chon, an adviser to the Ministry of National Defence and North Korea's top military official, toured construction sites along the Military Demarcation Line—referred to as the border by North Korea.
KCNA reported that yesterday "Marshal Pak Jong-chon" and others conducted an "on-site inspection of key points of the fortification work sites along the southern border."
Expressing what he called an "important position," Pak stressed, "When the enemy, following warning broadcasts and warning shots, carries out provocations that threaten the actual safety of our soldiers in the future, we must never tolerate it and must immediately counterattack," adding, "Now is not the time to sit around engaging in a war of words."
He continued his threatening remarks, saying, "It is time for a firepower organization that the enemies cannot help but fear."
Department Director Kim Yo-jong said, "Our military leadership must make that gang of ruffians realize that our new firepower sub-units have taken up firing positions."
However, shortly afterward, Kim Yo-jong released an additional statement correcting the date, stating that the border visit occurred early this morning, and that KCNA had mistakenly reported the inspection as having taken place yesterday.
In this statement, Kim conveyed that "the head of state emphasized that facing a border with the world's most wretched and hideous enemy is a terrible tragedy, and therefore that border line must become a permanent line that can never be crossed."
She claimed, "If the border becomes permanent, the risk of military clash in this region will undoubtedly be eliminated."
She also warned, "Our tactical hunting teams are taking up new positions, and within October, psychological warfare loudspeakers directed at South Korea will go into operation across the entire border."
Kim stated, "Suppose we were to return warning shots toward the enemy," adding, "The situation at the border would worsen beyond imagination."
By announcing the resumption of loudspeaker broadcasts in response to warning broadcasts and shots fired by the South Korean military, she appeared to claim this as a move demonstrating "restraint."
Kim threatened, "If the enemy's provocative warning shots go beyond warnings and result in actual harm to our territorial safety and the personal safety of our service members, our border troops will mercilessly eliminate those armed gangsters who have lost their reason."
(Photo: KCNA, Yonhap News)
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